Breaking through barriers for workers who have children with special needs.

Sisters & Brothers, Seasons Greetings!

Welcome to this Member-to-Member Connection Special Edition newsletter. We would like to thank the members who have contributed. Your willingness to share your needs and concerns, as well your success stories, is sure to be appreciated by all who read these letters.

Since the last newsletter in December 2003, our work on the Moving On project for members with adult children (over 19 years) with disabilities has progressed.

During the months of September and October, 50 members and partners participated in focus groups in Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and St. John, as well as two teleconference sessions.

We want to thank those of you who have contributed to the development of this project. With the focus groups and the member survey conducted during the summer, we have learned much about how your child’s transition to adulthood impacts your work and family life. We have heard about the lack of services and information about resources in your communities, your child’s needs for employment, recreation, friends and further education, as well as your concerns about the future for your adult child.

Based on your input and your reflections on the strengths of the Special Needs Project, a proposed Moving On project design is being developed. We hope to launch the new project by late February. The project will be open to both CUPW and UPCE-PSAC members. We will continue to keep you informed as the Moving On project unfolds.

We wish you and your family much joy and peace as you enter into the holiday season. May this peace follow you into the new year and throughout 2005.

In solidarity,

Denis Lemelin
Luc Guèvremont
JoAnna Latulippe-Rochon

After paying for wheelchair repairs for over 13 years out of my own pocket and money received from the Special Needs Project, I was finally informed that Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services pays for repairs as long as the Ministry finances it. I discovered this information when I had no money to pay for the last repair. This meant that my son Abbey would have had to stay home and not be able to attend school.

Mail Delivery

Brampton, ON

We would like to thank the CUPW Special Needs Project for all the help we have received from them. They made it possible for us to get tutoring for our two girls. It has made a very important difference.

Letter Carrier

Windsor, ON

Thank you, CUPW for the financial help you’ve given my family. I have enclosed a picture of Christian receiving a Turnaround Achievement Award from his school. We are very proud of him. He is finally being recognized for his efforts. Barett Corporation made him feel very special. They really boosted his self-esteem. I truly believe that the success Christian is enjoying today is directly connected to the help received from the CUPW Special Needs Project. Thanks a million.

PO4

Grand Falls, NB

At the beginning of the school year I had purchased a Walkman for my son. He has ADHD moderate to severe. It has become a valuable tool for his education. His accommodations at school allow the teachers to put his exams and some lessons on a CD format. Since Jacob must do his exams orally, this has become a valuable tool. Hope the new use of a Walkman will help others to help their children. Do not let the school say no - it’s your right to have your special child accommodated.

Letter Carrier PO1

Innisfil, ON

I hope to introduce an idea to the CUPW membership in the fall of 2004. I think that disabled children of single parents should be deemed as spouses for the purpose of tax deduction and benefactor of pensions and CPP.

The philosophy is quite simple. If I was in my seventies and married a partner fifty years my junior that spouse would be entitled to all my pensions without question. Since most, if not all, of our disabled children never marry, why can’t we give our pensions to them?

One may state that you can give insurance to them. If you have looked into this you will know that the government mandates all monies, assets, etc, must be used up before reinstating a disability cheque. Your child will lose that (the disability cheque) the day they inherit money or assets. I found this out the day I made my will.

Please write to me with your thoughts about this. Sorry I don’t have e-mail.

Clerk PO4

Windsor, ON

It was great to hear about the Special Needs Project. It has helped Jeremy function with his ADHD in such a positive way. He is able to focus better and his organizational skills are getting better. He says that now he’s got friends, which never really existed before. He is very excited about Jr. High. Concerta has been a blessing in helping us deal with his condition. It feels as though he has found a new lease on life. Schoolwork, friends, behaviour and social skills have all improved. This new slow-release drug doesn’t make him like a zombie. He takes it once in the morning and it lasts all day and it doesn’t break into a powder which is a concern with teenagers. It actually turns into a gel. You don’t see any change in him physically, but there’s a big change in his self-esteem. Thanks.

Renée Barron.

St. John’s, NL

I was recently visited by Contact Hamilton, which is a program for children between the teen to young adult ages. This program is basically run by the government and is a resource for parents. As we know, the older our children get, the less there is out there for them. During the visit, the resource coordinator talked with my daughter and I to find out what kind of things my daughter likes to do. Then she gave me a couple of contacts for services my daughter might like during the summer and, of course, all year round. I would like to share this information with you.

Contact Hamilton

For Children and Developmental Services 140 King St. E, Suite 4
Hamilton, ON, L8N 1B2
(905) 570-8888

Choices

(905) 628-6147

Extend - A - Family

(905) 383-2885

Hamilton Association for Community Living

191 York Blvd., Hamilton, ON, L8R 1Y6

If you don’t live in my area, I’m sure there is one in your area.

PO4 Clerk

Hamilton, ON

Colin has been reassessed from being mildly mentally challenged to moderately mentally challenged. His greatest accomplishments since starting kindergarten are reading, working on smaller, beautiful handwriting, eager classmates, and being able to find friends and get invited
to a birthday party. Two boys ran out of the school to hold the bus for Colin just so Colin wouldn’t miss it. He’s finally being noticed. His teacher has said that Colin puts all his effort into everything that he does. He wants to be included and accepted by his classmates. This is his last year for elementary school. Next year, Colin will enter middle school and we can only hope that he will continue to get peer support and perhaps more of it. As Colin and time progress
I would like to see more promotion and support for integrating people with special needs into the work force and education system. Thank you Canada Post from Colin who knows all about your funding.

PO4

Kelowna, BC

Have you ever been at the grocery store and for once it is someone else’s child having a temper tantrum? Although you may sympathize with the parent it still feels good to see that you are not the only person that this happens to, that you are normal.

Devin is a wonderful boy but dealing with him at times is a challenge. My 10 year old has ADHD, ODD and LD, which often puts me in the boat of feeling that people are staring and wondering why I can’t control my child. The fact that he comes across as “a normal child” (I hate that term) makes people less apt to understand. I started with CPC just over a year ago. The union promptly put me in touch with the Special Needs Project. Not only has it helped out financially but I no longer feel so alone. Devin’s tutoring and hard work have improved not only his school-work, but his self esteem. It has helped a bit in his ability to get along with his peers. Thanks a lot and keep up the good work.

Term

Windsor, ON

I would like to thank the Special Needs Project on behalf of myself and the rest of my family. The opportunity to be part of this unique project has been beneficial financially. As well, it has provided a wonderful listening “ear” regarding the obstacles and challenges families with special needs children face day to day. Two of our special needs children are now adults and it is very exciting to watch them grow on their own. Opportunities that they were given because of Special Needs Project funding has been a contributing factor to their advancement and growth. We still have a fourteen year old daughter with Juvenile Diabetes in the program. She is going to a two week diabetic camp again this summer in Huntsville, ON, thanks to special needs assistance. These opportunities help to build confidence in our youth. From the bottom of our hearts, thanks again.

PO2

Elmira, ON

My son Myles is 11 years old now. I see a big difference in him. He has started to read. We are still working on his speech. He’s going to speech therapy twice a week and he’s improving. We’re still working on other issues and I’m getting some help for that. I believe that his speech therapy has helped him a lot.

PO4 Postal Clerk

Surrey, BC

From the Simcoe Reformer newspaper, March 2004: “Lauren Poitras took home the Against the Odds award in the 13 to 18 age category. Against the Odds nominees have shown great strength, ambition and dedication in overcoming a mental, physical, personal, economic or environmental challenge to achieve a goal.” From Dawn Poitras, who nominated her daughter Lauren for this award: “Lauren is one of the most courageous, strong-willed young women I know. Her honest and innocent eyes reveal a familiar soul, her smile reflective of warm summer sun, her tolerance that of a world class athlete, and her ability to adapt is truly amazing and beyond medical comprehension. Discover my daughter, indulge yourself in her love and laughter, and you too will be amazed. Even a brief encounter with Lauren will touch your heart, but when you know the path she has traveled, you too will understand and applaud her accomplishments. While other little girls took ballet, mine learned to stand on her own two feet. While other parents spent time in arenas, studios, schools, we spent time in hospital. This is where we all grew up... Lauren has made it easy for me to dedicate my life to her. Special needs...no, our life together has been a special blessing.”

Letter Carrier

Simcoe, ON

On Friday May 28, 04, our daughter Julie-Anne was presented with the “Sunshine Award” at her high school. This in itself was great. But what was even better was that all the students from grade 9 to 12, and faculty, gave her a standing ovation. This is an award that is presented every year
to a student who brings a smile or is always happy around others. Gilles and I have always
called her our “ray of sunshine”. To have received this award, plus the standing ovation, is, and was, a great honor. Julie-Anne has been with us since we adopted her at 4 years old. They told us she wouldn’t do this or that. We just said, “Is that so.” She was in a ballet troop for 3 years, took jazz, and was in a recital at our cities theatre. This is a little girl who will be 17. She may be small and she may have a disability, but there is no challenge she won’t attempt. To people that say “Oh you have a special needs child.”, I say, “No we have a child who is special and she is our special gift.” Never say no and never give up. We have the best and sweetest children. And the very, very best is that we are the lucky ones “God” chose to put these children, “our angels”, with. Yes, there are frustrations and some- times we are tired to the bone and say, “Why me?” Let me tell you when I stood in that gym and saw Julie-Anne receive the “Sunshine Award” and saw her get a standing ovation from everyone there, it made me want to say to her and to all our special kids -”Go girls and boys, you rule. Show them what you can do.” To all parents I say, don’t accept someone saying that your child will never be able to do something. Check the sparkle in your child’s eye and say, “Oh yea, stand back and watch!”

Letter Carrier

Riverview, NB

Our son Nic started (April 2004) doing school work at CASA (Child and Adolescent Services). He
had not been to school since October 2003 because of anxiety and asperger syndrome. Academically he is quite capable but socially it is very difficult for him to be in large groups or crowds. At CASA half the day is spent on core subjects (language arts and math) and the other half of the day is spent on group or individual therapy. We have signed on as a family to attend the “multi - family” therapy sessions every Monday and once a month for our family alone. We have seen improvements in Nic’s moods and behaviour. I felt forced by the school board to register Nic in high school for next year but do not see how he can function in a large high school environment. We have decided to enroll him at the Argyll Center (learn net) where he can do everything on the Internet. We will upgrade our computer and purchase programs for instruction. When he will need help he can take the bus to the Argyll center and interact with the teachers there. Nic still has a hard time taking the bus but is willing to try (as long as there are no unexpected changes to the routes and schedules). Nic really enjoys the swimming experience. He can be with people he knows and still be surrounded by strangers and have a good time.

A-5 Administration

Edmonton, AB

Hello, my name is Andrea.

I’m seventeen and on the honor roll in grade 12 at NDSS. I’m an above knee, left leg amputee and lost my leg shortly after being born. This was due to amniotic band syndrome, which had cut off the blood circulation to my leg. My father works as a wicket clerk in Nanaimo and I have been involved in the Special Needs Project since I was five years old.

My parents have always encouraged me to get involved in athletic and leadership activities and the Special Needs Project has helped offset the cost of my participation in these activities.

Recently, I was selected for the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team and will start my first season with them as a developing racer. That means I’ll be competing against world-class athletes in places like Colorado and Utah in the United States. Being selected for the National Team has been a dream of mine since I was twelve years old. It’s such a great feeling knowing that I have accomplished one of my goals with the help of the Special Needs Project. As for the future, I hope to compete for Canada internationally and at the 2010 Olympics. Last year I took up swimming as a form of therapy and cross training for skiing and started to excel at this sport as well.

I should let you know that I have trained with able-bodied swimmers and skiers for a long time. I believe that I have gained their respect and shown people the importance of integration and inclusion in any activity by a person with a disability. By educating people that a disability does not define a person, we’ll create a healthier and more vibrant society. My involvement in sports helped me more than just physically; it helped me gain more self esteem and self confidence that allowed me to get involved in social and leadership activities.

I am currently a Junior Counselor with the War Amps where I help new or young amputees under 18 adapt to life without a limb. Recently, I was elected as the ath- lete representative for Vancouver Island on the management board for the Pacific Sport organization. I represent athletes, disabled and not, on the Island and help Pacific Sport understand what the athletes’ needs and desires are from all sports. I will also be participating in starting sports programs in elementary school to promote a healthy life style.

The support of the CUPW Special Needs Project has helped me accomplish these things and I just wanted to say a heart felt thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Andrea

I have raised Andrea, as well as her little sister Alicia, in the firm belief that you should reach for the limits of your ability and try your best at anything you do or desire. You should not restrict yourself to any preconceived prejudices or the traditional limits and restrictions set on a person with any type of disability.

These are easy words to write and speak about, but unless you’ve walked a mile in our shoes, a lot of people do not understand the tears and celebrations that you have experienced. I commend the children and parents for their courage. I would also like to thank the CUPW Special Needs Project for their assistance through all our years together. Feel free to connect with Andrea or myself if you wish.

PO4 Clerk

Nanaimo, BC